Sunday, October 31, 2010

On Halloween, many parents encourage their children to pay respect to the devil and evil spirits. Thousands of people willfully sanction the homage of Satan, decorating their homes and church buildings with trappings from Lucifer's kingdom in violation of God's Word. Preposterous? Read on.

The first observance of October 31 as a holiday began well before Christ's birth. This day marked the end of the Celtic calendar year. It thereby was the eve of Samhain, a three-day festival of the dead, celebrated by the Celtic pagan cult called the Druids. During this festival, the following activities were said to have occurred: the dead rose and wandered; divination and soothsaying were practiced; fairies, witches, and goblins harassed the people of the countryside; Druids demanded contributions of food to support their special diet.

The observance of Samhain continued, and in A.D. 837 Pope Gregory IV instituted All Saints' Day and All Hallows' Even, or Halloween, as a Christian holiday, which the church hoped would eliminate or replace Samhain and its pagan practices. It did not. During the Middle Ages, such practices accompanied a surge in witchcraft and actual worship of Lucifer himself. One of the special "Sabbaths" for this worship was October 31, and witches were said to travel to these services on broomsticks, accompanied by black cats.

In light of this brief historical review, consider some of the current practices and activities associated with Halloween.

1. October 31 is obviously linked with a pagan holiday during which divination and soothsaying were practiced.

2. Masks and costumes are used to conceal the true identity of children, who are then urged to go out and mimic the acts of trickery and harassment previously attributed to fairies, witches, and goblins.

3. The simple trick-or-treat is a demand for food contributions, which is clearly connected with the Druids' demand for their diet.

4. Posters of witches on broomsticks across the moon actually depict them as on their way to a special "Sabbath" service for the worship of Lucifer.

5. Pumpkins carved to show a face are related to the turnips carved into death masks, which were carried by Druids during Samhain.

"But we only do it in fun and make-believe," you may object. But God knows what you do not know—that you can't get involved in satanic practices without certain danger of being deceived by the devil. God says, "There shall not be found among you any one that... useth divination [fortune telling], or an observer of times [one who uses horoscopes and such like], or an enchanter [one who casts spells or hypnotic trances], or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits [one who works through spiritistic mediums], or a wizard [warlock], or a necromancer [one who speaks with the dead]. FOR ALL THAT DO THESE THINGS ARE AN ABOMINATION UNTO THE LORD" (Deuteronomy 18:10-12).

The former queen of witches of Europe, remarked to a Christian audience in Louisville that she and other witches and satanists would laugh when they saw Christians participating in and celebrating Halloween, even though they did it unknowingly. Can we afford to popularize this "holiday" while our land is dark with the blood of violence and is groaning under the results of ignorance and sin?

Be prepared for Satan's attack when you repent of your respect for this base holiday of death. Satan has enjoyed your support, and he will not give it up easily. Family and friends will oppose you, and even your church may speak evil of you. Persevere, and trust the Lord, because He is faithful to direct your paths. When children come to your door on October 31, sing them a verse of "Jesus Loves Me"; give them a small New Testament or a copy of this tract and a brief, kind testimony of why you want to give God glory on this day.

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret" (Ephesians 5:8-12).

"Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie" (Revelation 22:14,15).

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Time goes by too fast these days... It was just the other day that my first was a newborn and here he is 11 and a half! It feels like I just got here to CA, and it's already been 6 weeks! In some ways it seems like it's been forever and in some ways it seems like just yesterday I left for here. Don't know how much longer I'll be here... We may be leaving tomorrow : ( Never do know for sure what we'll be doing. It's really frustrating sometimes. We may have to pack up and leave at any given moment. It's really a frustrating thing to never know what's going to happen in the future, let alone what's going to happen tomorrow, or even later today. An unsettled life. No stability. Where's my anchor? Where's my Rock?

Friday, October 22, 2010

That's how I've been feeling. Exhausted! Between all the deaths in my family, PMS, cramping, migraines/headaches, sick kids, and sick self, I've gotten very little sleep the last month. I am so cranky it's absurd! I feel so on edge about everything. It's like I'm just waiting for someone to say "something" to jump on them. I have been yelling at my kids so much too. I hate it! I don't intend to let loose, but then something sets me off and WHAM! 2 weeks ago I knew T.O.M. was coming so it wasn't surprising, but now 2 weeks later and still nothing! So, needless to say now I'm really having some anger issues! Please pray for me if you think about it.

My great grandmother died a month and a half ago. It was hard, but we knew she wasn't suffering anymore and that she was with the Lord. My Uncle died last week. It was a bad situation. He hung himself to punish my Aunt. He is most likely in Hell. How awful is that? How my Aunt is suffering! And I wonder, what good can come of this? or how can good come of this? I know the Lord can work through and in this, but it's still just so sad. A stress on the family for sure.

Zachary and Kathleen had croup over a week ago. Sleepless nights with all the barking coughs! Now they have a wet cough that keeps us up nights. And Zachary is teething still... Four top teeth coming through, one bottom and it looks like his molars are swelling now. Poor kid! 3 of my kids have ear infections too.

Being that since I have been pregnant and/or nursing for over 12 years now, I don't have a regular T.O.M. which means never knowing for sure what's going on. This time (after this baby, I mean) I have been having really bad PMS. Which if I went to the dr. for I'm sure would be diagnosed as PMDD. In other words severe PMS. When I realize what's going on I am able to recognize and deal with (curb) my attitudes, thoughts and actions much better. But this month and last I feel like I'm totally losing control. Of all three!

I think a big part of my problem is that I've lost my focus. I have stopped completely focusing on the Lord! I have been so "busy" doing nothing. Visiting, cleaning, laundry and going here and there... I have been consumed with doing things. I guess that's probably why I've felt this dissatisfied feeling for a while now. Feeling like nothings right.

Pro. 21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

That is a verse that I really need to learn by heart and write on my forehead! So that I can see it every time I look in the mirror!

James 3:8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

And this one makes me wonder if I'm doomed to a life of troubles???

Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Nope, I'm not doomed, but I definitely need to work on bridling my tongue better! I know there aren't many people following my blog, but to those who are... I am really asking for a lot of prayer! Please pray that I will seek after the Lord and do as He wills and wants. Obedience to our Lord will keep us out of so much trouble in all areas of life! Pray that I will be diligent in my reading and prayer life, and that I will be a calmer more patient wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

I'm such a work in progress... How bout a song? : )

"He's Still Working On Me!"

1. There really ought to be a sign upon the heart, Don't judge her yet, there's an unfinished part. But I'll be perfect just according to His plan Fashioned by the Master's loving hands.

CHORUS:

He's still working on me to make me what I ought to be.

It took Him just a week to make the moon and stars,

The sun and the earth and Jupiter and Mars.

How loving and patient He must be, He's still working on me.

2. In the mirror of His Word reflections that I see Make me wonder why He never gave up on me. He loves me as I am and helps me when I pray Remember He's the Potter, I'm the clay

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Had a tea party for Makenzie's 7th birthday. Her birthday isn't til the 29th, but I wanted to be able to do it while we were here with family and I didn't know for sure when we were leaving. (still don't know) It was lots of fun though! My mom used her real tea cups and they got to decorate cookies instead of having cake. We had strawberries and some mini-grapes (not concord), and tea sized PBJ, sugar and peanut butter/marshmallow sandwiches. And real tea of course! : )

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Well, I'm still in CA visiting...Having a great time of it too! So glad I was able to come out here! Been wanting to post but everytime I get on here to, my mind goes blank! Guess I'll save up my thoughts : )

Zachary and Kathleen have croup. Zachary is really bad. He sounded so awful last night it scared me! And I'm not easily scared by sickness. Gave him some cough syrup and put on some Mentholatum and he was better. He was very restless all night though. Hopefully he'll do better tonight. Kathleen gets croup pretty frequently. She doesn't seem too bad right now. Just a bad cough at night. Praying they get better quick! I need some sleep!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

I have really noticed the world invading our churches and lives recently. It seems to me that people are lowering their standards. I think a big reason for that is that they are lowering "standards". Huh? Duh! Did I just say that? : ) Yes, but the problem is, a lot of the "standards" shouldn't be just standards they should be Convictions! What's the difference? Well, without doing word studies, I think that the difference is that a standard is more a way of life and something "YOU" think is right. Something, you try, in and of yourself to do. Whereas a conviction is a belief. Doesn't really matter if you want to do it, you KNOW it's right and therefore have to do it because GOD says you do.

It's so sad to see so many people back-sliding. And there are sooo many of them, which got me thinking about this. People I really thought had these convictions...ie...not going to the theatre, not wearing pants, not listening to bad music, not using birth control, etc... Are doing those exact things like it's no big deal. Which made me question the why of the way they acted before. If it had been a conviction/belief, they wouldn't be able to do it without feeling guilty. However if it had only been a standard...

It's so sad when you begin to feel like you'd rather go to a church where they dress worldly, use contemporary music and so on, than to go to such hypocritical churches, where so many people are just doing things for show. Having their "standards" just to make people notice them. When in the end it really isn't the outward that pleases God, but the inward. The attitudes, the thought processes, as well as the works that come naturally because of the inward rightness. "John 12:43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."

So, where is your heart? Are you doing things to please the Lord or are you doing them to please men? Are you living "right" so others notice you or so that others notice the Lord IN you?

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Wow, I can't believe it's October already! Time just flies! I am still in Cali, having a great time with family. Got more visiting planned for this weekend, lookin' forward to it! Have 2 birthdays and an anniversary at the end of this month. It's gonna be a busy month.

Which really brings up an interesting thought...Do you know the acronym for BUSY? It's B-eing, U-nder, S-atans', Y-oke... Not really something I want to be known for. And while some acronyms are silly this one is pretty realistic and true. It really seems these days that people are too busy doing "stuff", so that they have no time for people. What happened to the days when we could stop at a friends house unannounced and be welcomed? Now you HAVE to call ahead just to make sure they're there, because they are so busy doing that they may not have time to visit!

As a homeschooler I think this is a big problem for a lot of homeschool families. In order to expose their kids to things they think they might miss out on...ie...music, art, P.E., socials, etc... Parents put them in so much stuff that they are literally a taxi-mom and have no time to do school at home. Which means they are no longer HOMEschooling they are on-the-go-in-the-car-or-wherever-schooling. How can that be beneficial? I want my kids involved in some of those things, but it seems to me that people get so caught up being busy doing those things that they neglect other things more important. Such as, school, or the house, or cooking at home, or the kids, or their husbands. I don't want that for my family.

People really need to stop being so BUSY! Take time for family, church and people. I mean really, when was the last time you just stopped by a friends unannounced and had a good visit? Or when was the last time you spent the entire day at home just "being" with your family? When was the last time you actually did all the schoolwork you needed in a day (without leaving your house for some extra-curricular thing?) or finished all the curriculum for the year?

As a wife and mother how can you fulfill the scripture "Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers AT home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." if you're not at home?

I think we need to stop being so BUSY and stay home and do our job! Our husbands and children need that from us, and most importantly God need that from us!

About me

My Kiddos

Verse for the Day

Quotes

"There are several sovereignties in this country. First the sovereignty of the American people; then the sovereignty nearest to us all-the sovereignty of the family-the absolute right of each family to control its affairs in accordance with the conscience and convictions of duty of the heads of the familiy. I have no doubt that American people will always tenderly regard their household sovereignty, and however households may differ in their views and convictions, I believe that those differences will be respected." ~ James A. Garfield, 20th President of the USA

"I am much afraid that schools will prove the great gates of hell unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures, engraving them in the hearts of youth. I advise no one to place his child where the Scriptures do not reign paramount. Evey institution in which men are not increasingly occupied with the Word of God must become corrupt." - Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)

"Susanna Wesley taught her children at home, for twenty years carrying on this instruction daily, 'no so much,' she said, 'to train their minds as to save their souls'". - Ella Frances Lynch, Educating the Child at Home, 1914

"Home education is not something you casually fit into your calendar or make room for in your schedule. It is a committment you make to God and to your family that will require perserverence, energy, and patience." - Clay Clarkson, Educating the WholeHearted Child, 2011

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13, KJV

"You cannot buy a homeschooling kit that will make you instantly and easily successful. It is a long-term learning process, both for you and for your children." - Clay Clarkson, Educating the WholeHearted Child, 2011